Generating digital content overlays in relation to real-world objects via a display case with a multi-layered transmissive display

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure includes systems, methods, computer readable media, and devices that can generate and present a digital overlay over a view of a tangible object within a display case. In particular, the systems and methods described herein can synchronize a switchable diffuser element with a display screen and one or more light sources to alternate between a scatter state and a transparent state based on a display rate. In particular, the disclosed systems and methods can alternate the display screen between an emissive state (for displaying an emitted digital image) and an attenuating state (for displaying a transparency mask image). By synchronously toggling the display screen and the diffuser element between states, the disclosed systems can present a digital overlay superimposed over a view the inside of the display case.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/827,096, filed Nov. 30, 2017. The aforementioned application ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Recent years have seen rapid development in systems and devices forgenerating and displaying digital content together with real-worldobjects. Indeed, developers have generated digital content displaysystems that can present digital content as a virtual overlay ofreal-world objects. For example, some digital content display systemsutilize display cases that include transparent screens to presentdigital content while still revealing the contents of the display case.

Although such conventional transparent digital content display systemscan present digital content together with a view of real-world objects(e.g., objects within a display case), they nonetheless suffer from anumber of shortcomings. For example, some transparent digital contentdisplay systems cannot provide digital content overlays that add lightto a background scene. Indeed, some conventional transparent digitalcontent display systems utilize transmissive display screens that filterlight waves. Accordingly, these conventional transparent digital contentdisplay systems are limited in the digital content overlays they canproduce. For instance, conventional transparent digital content displaysystems cannot display bright opaque overlays in front of real-worldobjects, because displaying white digital content is a result of notfiltering light that passes through a display screen.

Other conventional transparent digital content display systems, however,utilize display screens that emit light waves to generate digitalcontent overlays. For example, these conventional digital contentdisplay systems can utilize organic light emitting diodes to cover abackground view with a digital content overlay. These systems, however,are also limited in the digital content overlays they can produce (i.e.,because they can only generate digital content overlays by emittinglight). For example, digital content display systems that rely on lightemitting diodes cannot provide a black digital overlay on a brightbackground view, because such light emitting systems cannotcontrol/adjust the opacity of a digital content overlay.

To address these shortcomings, some conventional digital content displaysystems place limitations on regions for displaying digital overlays.For example, conventional digital content display systems often includea region of a screen for displaying tangible objects, and then provide aseparate region of the screen for providing digital overlays, where thebackground scene is relatively uniform. These systems thus fail toutilize the entire display screen and further prevent immersive digitalcontent (e.g., digital content that appears to interact as an overlay toa real-world object).

Thus, there are several disadvantages with regard to conventionaltransparent digital content display systems.

SUMMARY

One or more embodiments described herein provide benefits and solve oneor more of the foregoing or other problems in the art with systems,methods, non-transitory computer-readable media, and devices forgenerating and presenting digital overlays on a view of tangible objectsby utilizing a switchable diffuser with a display screen. In particular,the systems described herein can utilize the switchable diffuser and thedisplay screen to provide a rapidly alternating view between an emittedlight image and a transparency mask image (that attenuates light comingfrom objects in the display case). The disclosed systems can rapidlyalternate between the emitted light image and thetransparency-mask-image modulated background view at a display rate suchthat, the emitted light image and the attenuated background view combineinto a digital overlay that appears simultaneously with (e.g.,superimposed over) the objects in the display case. In this manner, thedisclosed systems can emit and attenuate light waves for a digitaloverlay to a view of a tangible object in a display case and provide adigital overlay utilizing any part of the display screen, regardless ofcolor, shape, or location of the objects within the display case. Thus,the disclosed systems can accurately depict opaque or semi-transparentdark objects over a bright or dark background, as well as accuratelydepict bright opaque or semi-transparent foreground graphics over alight or dark background.

For instance, in one or more embodiments, the disclosed systems includea display case that is made up of a housing (with an ambient lightsource), a display screen, a switchable diffuser, and a diffuser directlight source. To illustrate, the display case may include a liquidcrystal display (“LCD”) screen that filters light that passes throughthe liquid crystals from behind. The switchable diffuser can transitionbetween a scatter state (e.g., a state that spreads light passingthrough over a wide angle thus looking like frosted glass) and atransparent state (looking like smooth glass) at a frequency faster thanis visible to the naked eye. The disclosed systems can provide anemitted light image via the display screen while the switchable diffuseris in the scatter state and can provide a transparency mask image viathe display screen when the switchable diffuser is in the transparentstate. The switchable diffuser may alternate between translucent (i.e.scattering) and transparent at a frequency that generates a digitaloverlay that appears to include both the emitted light image and thetransparency-mask-image modulated background view. Moreover, byalternating the diffuser between the scattering and transparent state atthe display rate, the disclosed systems can provide the digital overlayand an attenuated view of contents within the display case together.

The disclosed systems, methods, computer-readable media, and devicesprovide a number of improvements over conventional display systems. Asan initial matter, by generating a digital overlay that reflects both anemitted light image and a transparency mask image, the digital contentoverlay system can generate digital overlays that are composed of lightwaves added to and attenuated from a background view. Accordingly, thedigital content overlay system can generate digital overlays over a viewof a real-world object, regardless of color, shape, or location of theobject. Moreover, the digital content overlay system can also generatetransparent or semi-transparent digital overlays. Indeed, the digitalcontent overlay system can utilize the emitted light image to controlcolor of the digital overlay and the transparency mask image to controlopacity of the digital overlay. Accordingly, the disclosed systems cangenerate any variety of digital overlays (e.g., transparent andsemi-transparent images, solid or opaque images, text, video, animatedcontent, or other digital content) such that the digital content appearsto be directly overlaid on an object within a display case. Moreover, inone or more embodiments, the disclosed systems can increase flexibilityby expanding the creative space available for providing digitaloverlays. Indeed, the disclosed systems allow developers to freelyutilize the entire display screen without concern for where an objectwithin the display case may interfere with generated digital content.

Additional features and advantages of the present application will beset forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obviousfrom the description, or may be learned by the practice of such exampleembodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This disclosure will describe one or more embodiments of the inventionwith additional specificity and detail by referencing the accompanyingfigures. The following paragraphs briefly describe those figures, inwhich:

FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate an example display case presenting a digitaloverlay and a view of a tangible object in accordance with one or moreembodiments;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example configuration of components of a displaycase in accordance with one or more embodiments;

FIG. 3 illustrates another example configuration of components of adisplay case in accordance with one or more embodiments;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example flow diagram of various states associatedwith components of a display case in accordance with one or moreembodiments;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example timing diagram of state changes forcomponents of a display case in accordance with one or more embodiments;

FIG. 6 illustrates an example display case including one or morecomponents in accordance with one or more embodiments;

FIG. 7 illustrates another example display case including one or morecomponents in accordance with one or more embodiments;

FIG. 8 illustrates an example schematic diagram of a digital contentoverlay system in accordance with one or more embodiments;

FIG. 9 illustrates an example environment in which the digital contentoverlay system operates in accordance with one or more embodiments;

FIG. 10 illustrates a flowchart of a series of acts in a method fordisplaying a digital overlay over a view of a tangible object within adisplay case in accordance with one or more embodiments; and

FIG. 11 illustrates a block diagram of an example computing device inaccordance with one or more embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One or more embodiments described herein provide benefits and solve oneor more of the foregoing or other problems in the art with a digitalcontent overlay system that generates and presents digital overlays on abackground view of tangible objects utilizing at least one switchablediffuser with a display screen. In particular, the digital contentoverlay system can generate a digital overlay utilizing the switchablediffuser and the display screen by rapidly alternating between anemitted light image and a background view of objects in a display caseattenuated by a transparency mask image. For instance, the disclosedsystems can alternate between the emitted light image and the backgroundview attenuated by the transparency mask image at a display rate suchthat the emitted light image and the background view modified by thetransparency mask image generate a composite view with the objects inthe display case. In this manner, the digital content overlay system canprovide a digital overlay of a variety of colors and opacities utilizingany part of the display screen, regardless of color, shape, or locationof the objects within the display case.

To illustrate, the digital content overlay system can include a displaycase for presenting computer-generated digital content overlaid on aview of tangible objects within the display case. The display case caninclude a display housing that includes an open face (or more than oneopen face) and an internal cavity within the display housing. Inaddition, the display case can include display screens over one or moreof the open faces of the display housing. Each display screen canalternate, based on a display rate, between an emissive state (where thedisplay screen filters light emitted from a diffuser direct light sourceto display an emitted light image) and an attenuating state (where thedisplay screen filters light from the internal cavity of the displayhousing to display a transparency mask image). Further, the display casecan include at least one diffuser element within the display housing(e.g., behind the display screen) where the diffuser element alternatesbetween a transparent state and a scatter state based on the displayrate. The diffuser element and the display screen can alternate based ona common display rate that is faster than frequencies perceptible to thehuman eye, creating a digital overlay projected on top of the contentsof the internal cavity of the display case. When in the scatter state,the diffuser scatters light failing on it from behind over a wide angle,as viewed from the other side. In this state, the diffuser blurs thedirect view of background objects and acts as a diffuse backlight forthe image present on the transmissive display in front of it.

Accordingly, the digital content overlay system can control color andopacity of the resulting digital overlay. In particular, by controllingthe display rate, the transparency mask image, and the emitted lightimage, the digital content overlay system can generate a digital overlayof a variety of different colors at a variety of opacity levels. Forexample, the digital content overlay system can control color of thedigital overlay utilizing the emitted light image and control theopacity of the digital overlay based on the transparency mask image. Thedigital content overlay system can also control the fraction of timethat the display screen presents the transparency mask image and thefraction of time that the display screen presents the emitted lightimage. Thus, the digital content overlay system can control the overallbrightness of the transparency mask image and the emitted light image.

As mentioned, the display screen can filter light that passes throughthe display screen. For instance, the display screen can include aliquid crystal display (“LCD”) display that filters light that passesthrough the liquid crystals from behind the display. As will bedescribed in further detail below, the display screen displays digitalcontent (e.g., a digital overlay) by filtering various wavelengths oflight emanating from one or more light sources located behind thedisplay screen. The display screen can alternate, based on a displayrate, between an emissive state (where the display screen filters lightthat emanates from a diffuser direct light source) and an attenuatingstate (where the display screen filters light from tangible objects andthe interior of the internal cavity). Thus, in the emissive state, thedisplay screen can generate an emitted light image and, in theattenuating state, the display screen can generate a transparency maskimage. By alternating between the emissive state and the attenuatingstate at the display rate, the digital content overlay system cangenerate a digital overlay (i.e., a composite of the emitted light imageand the transparency mask image modulated background view).

As also mentioned, the display case can include at least one diffuserelement. The diffuser element can include a switchable diffuser thatalternates, in response to an electrical stimulus, between a transparentstate and a scatter state. Additionally, the digital content overlaysystem can synchronize the diffuser element with the display screen toalternate between the transparent state and the scatter state based onthe display rate. For example, the digital content overlay system canalternate the display screen and the diffuser element such that, at afirst point in time, the display screen is in the emissive state and thediffuser element is in the scatter state (such that the diffuser elementacts as a backlight), and at a second point in time, the display screenis in the attenuating state and the diffuser element is in thetransparent state (such that the diffuser element acts as a window toobjects in the display case).

Additionally, the display case can include a diffuser direct lightsource. In particular, the diffuser direct light source can illuminatethe display screen when the diffuser element is in a scattering state toassist the digital content overlay system in generating a digitaloverlay. In one or more embodiments, the diffuser direct light source isaligned to project light in a direction from the diffuser element (e.g.,behind the display screen) toward the display screen. Similar to thediffuser element, the diffuser direct light source can alternate, basedon the display rate, between an on state (where the diffuser directlight source illuminates the display screen through the diffuserelement) and an off state (where the diffuser direct light source isinactive). For instance, the digital content overlay system cansynchronize the diffuser direct light source with the display rate suchthat the diffuser direct light source is on when the diffuser element isin a scattering state (e.g., such that the diffuser element acts as abacklight surface for the display screen when the diffuser isilluminated by the diffuser direct light source).

In some embodiments, the display case also includes an ambient lightsource. For example, the display case can include an ambient lightsource that is located within the internal cavity within the displayhousing (e.g., a light source that is aligned to project light fromwithin the internal cavity of the display housing). The ambient lightsource can alternate, based on the display rate, between an on state(where the ambient light source illuminates the display screen) and offstate (where the ambient light source is inactive). Furthermore, thedigital content overlay system can synchronize the ambient light sourcewith the display screen, the diffuser element, and/or the diffuserdirect light source. For instance, the digital content overlay systemcan synchronize the ambient light source such that the ambient lightsource is in an on state when the diffuser direct light source is in anoff state and the diffuser element is in a transparent state (such thatthe ambient light source illuminates the display screen through thediffuser element).

As mentioned above, the digital content overlay system can alternateviews based on a display rate. For example, the digital content overlaysystem can alternate between an attenuating view and an emissive view.For instance, the attenuating view can include a view of a tangibleobject within the internal cavity of the display case as modulated by atransparency mask image generated by filtering passive light that passesthrough the display screen. The emissive view can include an emittedlight image generated by filtering light that passes through the displayscreen emitted from a diffuser direct light source.

To elaborate, in one or more embodiments, the digital content overlaysystem synchronizes the diffuser element with the display screenaccording to a display rate so that half the frames display differentviews. For example, on half of the frames, the digital content overlaysystem can make the diffuser element transparent while the displayscreen attenuates (e.g., filters) light that passes through thetransparent diffuser element from the internal cavity. On the other halfof the frames, the digital content overlay system can make the diffuserelement translucent (e.g., by increasing the scattering of light by thediffuser) while the display screen filters light from a diffuser directlight source. In one or more embodiments, the digital content overlaysystem alternates between these views at the display rate to generate acomposite view of a digital overlay superimposed on the internal cavityof the display case.

The digital content overlay system provides several advantages overconventional digital content display systems. For instance, by utilizingswitchable diffuser elements that can transition between a scatter stateand a transparent state (at a rate faster than the naked eye canperceive), the digital content overlay system can present a digitaloverlay on a view of an object within a display case. Indeed, incontrast to conventional systems, the digital content overlay system canaccurately depict opaque or semi-transparent dark objects over a brightor dark background, as well as accurately depict bright opaque orsemi-transparent foreground graphics over a light or dark background.Thus, the digital content overlay system can control both color andopacity of digital overlays by adding light via an emitted light imageand attenuating light from a background view utilizing a transparencymask image.

Furthermore, the digital content overlay system can increase flexibilityby utilizing all areas of a display screen in providing a digitaloverlay. In contrast to conventional systems, the digital contentoverlay system is not limited to particular portions or regions of adisplay screen (e.g., regions that do not overlap an object within thedisplay case). Rather, the digital content overlay system can provide adigital overlay anywhere on a display screen, allowing for moreimmersive digital content that interacts with objects within a displaycase.

More detail regarding the digital content overlay system will now beprovided with reference to the figures. For example, FIGS. 1A-1Cillustrate an example display case 100 as part of the digital contentoverlay system. An overview of the display case 100, including thecomponents included therein, is provided with reference to FIGS. 1A-1C.Thereafter, a more detailed description of the components and processesof the display case 100 and the digital content overlay system isprovided with reference to the subsequent figures.

FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate the display case 100 from different perspectives(e.g., at different points in time). Specifically, FIG. 1A illustratesthe display case 100 at an initial point in time, and FIG. 1Billustrates the display case 100 at a subsequent point in time. FIG. 1Cillustrates the display case 100 as seen by a viewer with the naked eye.Thus, the digital content overlay system can repeatedly (and quickly)alternate the display case 100 from the view of FIG. 1A to the view ofFIG. 1B to generate the perspective of FIG. 1C.

FIG. 1A illustrates the display case 100, including a display housing101 and a display screen 102 located over an open face 103 of thedisplay housing 101. In addition, the display housing 101 houses anobject 104 (e.g., a shoe). FIG. 1A shows the display case at an initialpoint in time. In particular, FIG. 1A illustrates a single given frameof the display screen 102 at the initial point in time. At the initialpoint in time, the digital content overlay system sets the displayscreen 102 to an attenuating state to reveal the object 104 within thecavity of the display housing 101.

In the attenuating state shown in FIG. 1A, the display screen 102 alsofilters light that passes out through the display screen 102 from withinthe display housing 101. Specifically, the display screen 102 filterslight (including light reflecting from the object 104) to generate atransparency mask image 110 (that includes a content item illustrated asthe text, “New Release!”). As used herein, the term “transparency maskimage” refers to a visible result of filtering light that passes througha display screen while the display screen is in the attenuating state. Atransparency mask image can include one or more digital content itemsthat are a result of a display screen filtering light that passesthrough the display screen from within the display housing (e.g., notlight from the diffuser direct light source). A transparency mask imagecan also include a portrayal of tangible objects and/or the interior ofthe display housing. Indeed, a transparency mask image can refer to allof the light that passes through the display screen when the displayscreen is in the attenuating state.

As used herein, the term “display screen” (or sometimes simply “screen”)refers to an electronic display or monitor. In particular, the termdisplay screen includes an electronic display for presenting digitalcontent. A display screen can include a monitor that is transparent(e.g., capable of transmitting all visible light wavelengths) and thatis independent of, or separate from, a backlight. Moreover, a displayscreen can include filtering elements that can selectively modify lightwaves passing through the screen. For example, a display screen caninclude an LCD screen. More specifically, a display screen may refer toan LCD screen such as, for example, a twisted nematic (“TN”) LCD, anin-plane switching (“IPS”) LCD, a super in-plane switching (“S-IPS”)LCD, an advanced fringe field switching (“AFFS”) LCD, a verticalalignment (“VA”) LCD, or a blue phase mode LCD.

In embodiments where the display screen is an LCD screen, the displayscreen can include multiple layers such as a horizontal polarizing film(e.g., a polarizing film that allows only horizontal light waves to passthrough), a liquid crystal layer (e.g., layer for modifying orientationof particular light waves and/or frequencies), and a vertical polarizingfilm (e.g., a polarizing film that allows only vertical light waves topass through).

In relation to FIG. 1A, the display screen 102 filters light by way ofvarious layers. For example, the display screen 102 filters wavelengthsof visible light projected through the layers of the display screen in adirection from behind the display screen outward through the screen. Todisplay the various colors for presenting attenuated light images (e.g.,the transparency mask image 110), the display screen 102 filters lightwavelengths (e.g., by way of the liquid crystal layer) from a sourcelight within the display housing 101 (e.g., light from within thedisplay housing 101 reflecting off the object 104).

As mentioned in relation to FIG. 1A, the digital content overlay systemsets the display screen 102 in an attenuating state. In particular, thedisplay screen 102 filters passive light that emanates outward fromwithin the display housing 101. In some embodiments, the display screen102 is transparent so that, when the display screen 102 is in theattenuating state, the display screen 102 reveals the contents of thedisplay housing 101. Indeed, as illustrated in FIG. 1A, the displayscreen 102 passes light from the interior (e.g., the internal cavity) ofthe display housing 101, including the light that makes up the image ofthe object 104. Thus, the display screen 102 reveals the object 104within the display housing 101 while also filtering light through someportions (e.g., pixels) of the display screen to generate thetransparency mask image 110.

As briefly described above, the digital content overlay systemalternates the display screen 102 between an attenuating state at aninitial point in time (e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 1A) and an emissivestate at a subsequent point in time (e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 1B).In particular, FIG. 1B illustrates the display case 100 including thedisplay housing 101, the open face 103, and the display screen 102 overthe open face 103. The display screen 102 of FIG. 1B displays an emittedlight image 112 that includes digital content items 112 a-112 c.

As used herein, the term “emitted light image” refers to a visibleportrayal of digital content items generated by a display screenfiltering light in an emissive state. An emitted light image can includedigital content items that are generated by filtering light emitted froma diffuser direct light source. In some embodiments, the diffuser directlight source projects or emits a white light. Thus, an emitted lightimage can include a digital content item of any color that results infiltering select wavelengths (or no wavelengths) from the while lightthat passes through the display screen.

As mentioned, the digital content overlay system can alternate views togenerate a digital overlay from a transparency mask image and an emittedlight image. As used herein, the term “digital overlay” refers to avisible portrayal of digital content items. In particular, the term“digital overlay” includes digital content presented or displayed by wayof a display screen (e.g., the display screen 102) that comprisesdigital content items of a transparency mask image as well as an emittedlight image. A digital overlay can include one or more digital contentitems (e.g., digital image, digital video, digital text). A digitaloverlay (e.g., the visible combination of digital content items within atransparency mask image and an emitted light image) can appear overlaidon a view of one or more tangible objects (e.g., the object 104 as seenwithin the transparency mask image) within the cavity of the displayhousing 101. For instance, a digital overlay can be superimposed (e.g.,appear superimposed) on light emanating from the internal cavity (e.g.,light from any tangible objects within the cavity).

As illustrated in FIG. 1B, the digital content overlay system sets thedisplay screen 102 in an emissive state and filters light to display theemitted light image 112 comprising the digital content items 112 a-112c. For example, the display screen 102 filters light from a diffuserdirect light source to display the text of the digital content item 112c (“Check it out!”) as well as the pointing finger image of the digitalcontent item 112 a, and the text of the digital content item 112 b (“NewRelease!”). The digital content overlay system can display each digitalcontent item of the emitted light image 112 in any color. Furthermore,although FIG. 1B illustrates the emitted light image 112 including aparticular number and arrangement of digital content items, the emittedlight image can include additional, fewer, or different digital contentitems (and/or in a different arrangement).

FIG. 1B shows the display screen 102 displaying the emitted light image112 while the object 104 of FIG. 1A is not visible. As will be describedin further detail below, the display case 100 includes a diffuserelement located behind the display screen 102 that alternates betweentransparent (e.g., like smooth clear glass) and scattering (e.g., likerough frosted glass) based on the display rate of the display screen102. To elaborate, the digital content overlay system sets the diffuserelement to a transparent state and sets the display screen 102 to anattenuating state (thus, revealing the object 104, as illustrated inFIG. 1A). In relation to FIG. 1B, however, the digital content overlaysystem sets the diffuser element to a scatter state, blurring a view ofthe object 104. While translucent, the diffuser element acts as abacklight for the display screen 102 by scattering light that falls onit from behind. More specifically, the diffuser element scatters thelight over a wide angle to blur any image of objects that mightotherwise be visible behind the diffuser element, while also providinglight (e.g., by “glowing”) to illuminate the display screen 102. Thus,the digital content overlay system can set the diffuser element to ascatter state and the display screen 102 to an emissive state andprovide a light source to assist in displaying the emitted light image112.

As mentioned above, the display screen 102 alternates between theattenuating state of FIG. 1A and the emissive state of FIG. 1B accordingto a display rate. As used herein, the term “display rate” refers to arate or frequency of changing a display screen (or pixels of a displayscreen) and/or a diffuser element. In particular, the term display rateincludes a rate or frequency of alternating a display screen between anattenuating state and an emissive state (or vice-versa). The displayrate may be expressed in Hertz (“Hz”). In some embodiments, the displayrate is limited by a refresh rate associated with the display screen102. A refresh rate is generally defined as a rate at which a displaycan redraw every pixel on the display. Some display screens have arefresh rate of 144 Hz, while other display screens have a refresh rateof 120 Hz, 72 Hz, 60 Hz, or 30 Hz. However, in other embodiments, thedisplay rate may include a frequency higher than 144 Hz (e.g., 240 Hz oreven up to 300 Hz). At 144 Hz, the display screen 102 can perform up to144 transitions per second. Thus, in these embodiments the displayscreen 102 can display up to 72 emitted light images (frames) per secondas well as 72 transparency mask image modulated background views(frames) in the same second. In one or more embodiments, the displayrate is fast enough (e.g., above 60 Hz) such that, when the displayscreen 102 on the display case 100 is observed by the naked eye, thetransitions between the emissive state and the attenuating state areimperceptible and the view (e.g., the digital overlay that is acombination of the transparency mask image and the emitted light image)of the display screen appears constant.

As shown in FIG. 1C, by alternating between the attenuating state andthe emissive state at the display rate, the display screen 102 presentsa view of the object 104 and the digital overlay 106 (e.g., a compositeview of the emitted light image and the background view as attenuated bythe transparency mask image). In particular, FIG. 1C illustrates thedisplay case 100 as observed by a viewer in real time where the featuresof FIG. 1A and the features of FIG. 1B are simultaneously visible.

As illustrated in FIG. 1C, the digital overlay 106 can provide a digitaloverlay 114 with digital content items 114 a-114 c superimposed over allor part of the object 104 within the cavity of the display housing 101.As shown, all or part of the digital overlay 114 can be positioned onthe display screen 102 such that the digital overlay 114 appears infront of (or over) a view of the object 104. Indeed, the display screen102 can provide the digital overlay 114 over all or part of the object104, regardless of the shape, position, or color of the object 104.

In addition, the digital content overlay system can vary the opacity ofthe digital overlay 106 overlaid over the object 104. In particular, thedigital content overlay system can vary opacity to adjust the visibilityof the object 104 through any digital content items. Specifically, thedigital content overlay system can vary opacity utilizing thetransparency mask image 110.

To illustrate, in relation to FIG. 1C, the digital content overlaysystem generates the digital content item 114 b as an opaque digitalcontent item based on the transparency mask image 110. Specifically, thedigital content item (“New Release!”) of the transparency mask image 110overlaps the digital content item 112 b on the display screen and hastransparency values less than one, corresponding with the graphic shapeof the region. Accordingly, when alternating between the transparencymask image 110 and the digital content item 112 b of the emitted digitalimage 112, the digital content item 114 b of the digital overlay 114appears opaque. Specifically, the digital content item 114 b takes onthe color of the emitted digital image 112 and is opaque because thetransparency mask image 110 acts as a mask, filtering light from withindisplay housing 101. Combining the mask of the transparency mask image110 with the color of the digital content item 112 b from the emitteddigital image 112 results in a colored, opaque digital content item 114b of the digital overlay 114.

The digital content overlay system can also generate a transparent,semi-transparent, or opaque digital overlay based on the transparencymask image 110. For example, the digital content item 114 a of thedigital overlay is transparent. Specifically, the digital content item114 a takes on the color of the digital content item 112 a. Because thetransparency mask image 110 is at maximum transparency in the region ofthe digital content item 112 a from the emitted light image 112, thedigital content item 112 a is combined with light waves coming from theinner cavity of the housing 101. Combining the digital content item 112a from the emitted light image 112 with light waves from the housing 101makes the digital content item 114 a of the digital overlay 114 appearglowing and transparent.

In this manner, the digital content overlay system can utilize theemitted digital image 112 to control color of the digital overlay 114while utilizing the transparency mask image 110 to control opacity.

Although FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate a display case 100 including a singleopen face 103 with a single display screen 102, in some embodiments thedisplay case 100 can include more than one open face (each open facehaving a corresponding display screen). For example, the display case100 can even include display screens covering open faces on all sides ofthe display case 100. Additional detail regarding the variousembodiments of the display case 100 is provided below with reference toFIGS. 6 and 7.

As briefly described above, a display case utilized by the digitalcontent overlay system can include various components. For instance, adisplay case can include a display housing, a display screen, a diffuserelement, a diffuser direct light source, and/or an ambient light source.For example, FIGS. 2-3 illustrate a display screen 202, a diffuserelement 204, a diffuser direct light source 206, and an ambient lightsource 208 in accordance with one or more embodiments. Specifically,FIG. 2 illustrates an example environment 200 with the display screen202 in an attenuating state and the diffuser element 204 in atransparent state (thus revealing the interior of the display housing101 while also displaying a transparency mask image). Thereafter, FIG. 3illustrates an example environment 300 with the display screen 202 in anemissive state and the diffuser element 204 in a scatter state(displaying an emitted light image).

As used herein, the term “diffuser element” (or “switchable diffuser” orsometimes simply “diffuser”) refers to an object that selectivelyscatters or transmits (e.g., passes) light. In particular, a diffuserelement includes an object that can alternate between a transparentstate and a scatter state. More specifically, a diffuser element caninclude a sheet, screen, film, or layer of material that can alternatebetween a transparent state to pass light (e.g., such that it appearslike glass) and a scatter state to scatter light (e.g., such that itappears like a mirror). For instance, the diffuser element can becomposed of a material that, in response to electrical stimulation,transitions from translucent (i.e., scattering) to transparent orvice-versa. Additionally, the diffuser element can be composed of amaterial that can transition from translucent to transparent orvice-versa at a rate of up to 300 Hz.

As used herein, a “scatter state” refers to a state of an object thatscatters light. When an object scatters light, such as a milky liquid orfrosted glass, the light passing through is deflected over a lobe ofangles (i.e., making the object translucent). This has the effect ofblurring objects seen through the scattering medium. Light shining ontoa scattering medium can make it look like a bright white glowing object,whose color does not change based on the direction of view. This makesit suitable for use as a backlight for a display.

As used herein, “transparent” refers to a state of an object that passesall (nearly all) light (without blur or attenuation). “Semi-transparent”may refer to a state of an object that passes a subset of the visiblelight such that an observer can perceive some light passing through theobject (e.g., a change in brightness while not blurring the view ofobjects seen through it). Accordingly, an object in a semi-transparentstate passes less light than the same object in a transparent state.“Opaque” refers to a state of an object that blocks (all or nearly all)visible light (e.g., such that an observer cannot perceive an imagethrough the object).

The transparency of an object may depend on the wavelength of the light,attenuating some colors more than others. Red tinted glass, forinstance, allows through red light while blocking other colors. A liquidcrystal display controls the transparency of pixels for red, green andblue bands of light, using adjacent regions with red, green and blurfilters respectively. The digital content overlay system allows pixelsto be displayed that have controllable emissive (or added) light, alongwith controlled transparency. Both the emitted color, and thetransparency are controllable at each pixel for R, G, and Bindependently, or for other color bands for displays based on differentcolor filters.

As shown in FIG. 2, the example environment 200 includes a diffuserdirect light source 206 and an ambient light source 208. As used herein,the term “diffuser direct light source” refers to a light source that adisplay screen utilizes to display an emitted light image. Inparticular, a diffuser direct light source includes a light sourcelocated behind a display screen. A diffuser direct light source canrefer to a directional light that shines onto a diffuser element andthat is unobstructed by other objects (e.g., objects within a displaycase). As an alternative, the diffuser direct light source may refer toa sheet of material that is controllably emissive. The digital contentoverlay system in these embodiments could use a diffuser direct lightsource in the form of a uniform backlight that is mostly transparent,but coated or containing a light emitting material, such as an organiclight emitting diode, to illuminate a display screen directly. Forexample, the diffuser direct light source could be a transparentbacklight made of material that fluoresces when suitably illuminatedexternally or that glows when edge-lit. An alternative design is tocombine the diffuser direct light source with a diffuser (e.g., thediffuser element 204), with the light source used to illuminate thediffuser directly. When illuminated in this way, and in a scatteringstate, the diffuser may act as a backlight for the transmissive display.Using a diffuser direct light source to illuminate a diffuser can helpto ensure a wide angle of spread of light before the light reaches thedisplay, enabling a wide viewing angle for any emissive function of thedisplay.

As also used herein, the term “ambient light source” refers to a lightsource projecting light within a display case. In particular, the termambient light source includes a light source projecting light to aninternal cavity of a display case housing. Indeed, though notillustrated in FIG. 2, the ambient light source 208 can be locatedwithin the display housing 101. For example, an ambient light source mayinclude a light source that produces and provides light from behind thediffuser element 204 and that projects light in a direction toward thedisplay screen 202 either directly or after reflecting off objects inthe display case.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the digital content overlay system sets theambient light source 208 in an on state to illuminate the objects behindthe display screen 202 seen through the diffuser element 204. Inparticular, the digital content overlay system sets the ambient lightsource 208 in an on state with the diffuser direct light source 206 setin an off state. As shown, the light 210 from within the internal cavityof the display housing 101 (indicated by the arrows of FIG. 2 thatrepresent light waves), emanates in a direction out from the ambientlight source 208, through the diffuser element 204, and through thedisplay screen 202. As also shown, some of the light 210 is selectivelyattenuated by the display screen 202 (as shown by the decrease in lengthof the arrows after passing through the display screen 202) to display abackground view modulated by a transparency mask image. In someembodiments, however, the display screen 202 does not filter any light210 in the attenuating state. For an LCD screen, however, at least halfof the light 210 is typically blocked by the various layers of the LCDscreen, even in a state of maximum transparency. To overcome this lossof brightness for tangible objects within a display case, the digitalcontent overlay system may brighten the ambient light 210.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the digital content overlay system sets thedisplay screen 202 in an attenuating state and sets the diffuser element204 in a transparent state. Therefore, the diffuser element 204 does notscatter the light 210 as it passes through the diffuser element 204, andthe display screen 202 selectively attenuates the light 210.Accordingly, much of the light 210 passes through the diffuser element204 and the display screen 202 to reveal an image of the interior of thedisplay housing 101.

FIG. 3, as mentioned above, illustrates an environment 300 including thedisplay screen 202, the diffuser element 204, the diffuser direct lightsource 206, and the ambient light source 208. In particular, FIG. 3illustrates the display screen 202 in an emissive state, the diffuserelement 204 in a scatter state, a diffuser direct light source 206 in anon state, and the ambient light source 208 in an off state. The digitalcontent overlay system sets the ambient light source 208 to the offstate and does not project any light outward toward the diffuser element204. Even so, as shown in FIG. 3, the diffuser element 204 blocks (e.g.,scatters) the light 210 that emanates from within the internal cavity ofthe display housing 101. Thus, the diffuser element 204 obstructs animage of the interior of the display housing 101, including the object104, from projecting through the display screen 202 and being visible toan observer.

In addition, the digital content overlay system sets the diffuser directlight source 206 to an on state to produce or emit the light 212(illustrated by the arrows in FIG. 3). The light 212 from the diffuserdirect light source 206 projects outward toward the diffuser element204. In particular, the light 212 projects from the diffuser directlight source 206 to illuminate the diffuser element 204 in the scatterstate. Indeed, the diffuser element 204 scatters the light 212 that isprojected onto it from behind, thereby blurring any image that wouldotherwise be visible through the diffuser element 204 in the transparentstate and producing an even glow of light (e.g., white light) across thediffuser element 204. As a result, by scattering the light 212 in thisway, the diffuser element 204 provides an emitted light for the displayscreen 202 to produce an emitted light image. As shown, the diffuserelement 204 scatters the light 212 to produce cones of rays that projecttoward the display screen 202. Thus, the diffuser element 204 acts as abacklight for the display screen 202 when in the scatter state.

As mentioned, the diffuser direct light source 206 provides light 212evenly across the diffuser element 204 to provide a uniform picture toan observer looking at the display screen backlit by the diffuserelement 204. Additionally, in some embodiments the diffuser direct lightsource 206 provides a white light that includes all wavelengths ofvisible light. In FIG. 3, the digital content overlay system sets thedisplay screen 202 in the emissive state and filters some of the light212 projected by the diffuser direct light source 206 onto the diffuserelement 204. For example, the display screen 202 attenuates selectwavelengths from the light 212 to display digital content (e.g., theemitted light image of FIG. 1B).

Different areas of the display screen 202 can filter differentwavelengths of the light 212 to display different colors as part of animage, icon, text, etc. Similarly, some areas of the display screen 202may not filter any wavelengths of the light 212, but may instead passthe light 212 through the display screen 202 to display all wavelengthsproduced by the diffuser direct light source 206 illuminating thediffuser element 204 (e.g., to show the color white). As illustrated inFIG. 3, the display screen 202 filters the light 212 (e.g., to displayat least part of a digital overlay as shown by the emitted light imagein FIG. 1B).

Although FIGS. 2-3 illustrate a particular arrangement of the displayscreen 202, the diffuser element 204, the diffuser direct light source206, and the ambient light source 208, additional arrangements arepossible. For example, in some embodiments the diffuser direct lightsource may be a transparent material with a controllable glow such as atransparent organic light emitting diode (“OLED”) or grid of OLEDs. Inthese embodiments, the diffuser direct light source may have the sameheight and width as the diffuser element 204 and may be located directlybehind (e.g., toward the inside of a display case) and/or affixed to thediffuser element 204. Additional detail regarding alternativeembodiments of the display case is provided below with reference to FIG.7.

Although FIGS. 2-3 illustrate the diffuser direct light source 206 asseparate from the diffuser element 204, in some embodiments the diffuserelement 204 may include the diffuser direct light source 206. Forinstance, the diffuser element 204 may include a light source on oneface (e.g., a face that is in a direction toward the ambient lightsource 208) and a switchable diffuser on an opposite face (e.g., a facethat is in a direction toward the display screen 202). Accordingly, thediffuser element 204 may be capable of alternating between a transparentstate wherein the diffuser element 204 passes light (while the diffuserdirect light source is off), and a scatter state wherein the diffuserelement 204 scatters light from within the display housing 101 and alsoemits light outward toward the display screen 202.

In addition, although FIGS. 2-3 illustrate embodiments where the ambientlight source 208 alternates between an on state (e.g., FIG. 2) and anoff state (e.g., FIG. 3), in some embodiments the digital contentoverlay system maintains the ambient light source 208 in an on state. Inparticular, regardless of the state of the other components of thedisplay case 100, the digital content overlay system may keep theambient light source 208 in an on state to project light. In theseembodiments, the diffuser element 204 scatters the light from theambient light source 208 when the diffuser element 204 is translucent inthe scatter state. In addition, the diffuser element 204 passes thelight from the ambient light source 208 when the diffuser element 204 istransparent.

As mentioned above, in one or more embodiments the digital contentoverlay system synchronizes components of a display case and togglesstates of the components based on a display rate. In particular, thedigital content overlay system can toggle component states at afrequency that is faster than the human eye can perceive. Accordingly,the digital content overlay system can display contents within a displaycase (e.g., the object 104) together with a digital overlay (e.g., thedigital overlay 106 of FIG. 1C). To describe the toggling of statesbetween a first point in time wherein the digital overlay is visible anda second point in time wherein the interior of the display housing 101is visible, FIG. 4 illustrates a flow 400 with “Time 1” and “Time 2”depicting the respective states of the components of the display case100.

In particular, the flow 400 includes a display rate clock 402 whichtoggles the components (e.g., the display screen, the diffuser directlight source, the diffuser, and the ambient light source) between theirrespective states at Time 1 and Time 2. As illustrated in FIG. 4, thedisplay rate clock 402 repeats the toggling between Time 1 and Time 2 ata rate dictated by a refresh rate of the display screen element. Forexample, the display rate clock 402 may toggle between the states atTime 1 and Time 2 at a rate of up to 144 Hz. In the same or otherembodiments, the display rate clock 402 toggles between Time 1 and Time2 at a rate of more or less than 144 Hz (e.g. 300 Hz, 240 Hz, 120 Hz, 60Hz, 30 Hz, etc.). Furthermore, the display rate clock 402 may togglebetween Time 1 and Time 2 at a rate within a particular range (e.g.,from 30 to 60 Hz, from 60 to 144 Hz, from 144 to 300 Hz, etc.). Thus, asdescribed above, each of the components are in their respective statescorresponding to Time 1 up to 150 times per second, and are likewise intheir respective Time 2 states up to 150 times per second. Althoughparticular, rates are described, additional (e.g., faster or slower)rates are possible.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, at Time 1 the digital content overlay systemsets the display screen to an emissive state, the diffuser element to ascatter state, the diffuser direct light source to an on state, and theambient light source to an off state. The diffuser direct light sourceprojects light toward the diffuser element. For example, the diffuserdirect light source projects a light wave 404 toward the diffuserelement. Because the diffuser element is in the scatter state, thediffuser element scatters the light wave 404 to produce a cone of lightrays, and the diffuser element glows evenly to emit light for thedisplay screen. Thus, the display screen filters the light 404 thatpasses through it to display an emitted light image.

FIG. 4 also illustrates the states of the components at Time 2, wherethe digital content overlay system sets the display screen to anattenuating state, the diffuser element to a transparent state, thediffuser direct light source to an off state, and the ambient lightsource to an on state. By toggling the ambient light source on while thediffuser element is transparent, the digital content overlay systemmaintains consistent lighting. To illustrate, the digital contentoverlay system toggles the diffuser direct light source on during Time 1and off during Time 2, and also toggles the ambient light source offduring Time 1 and on during Time 2. Thus, whether at Time 1 or Time 2,the digital content overlay system enables a light source behind thedisplay screen. This can help prevent an appearance of dimming thedisplay when viewed in real time as the digital content overlay systemquickly toggles the components of the display case 100 between states,and can further help increase the visibility of any tangible object(e.g., the object 104) contained within the display housing 101 of thedisplay case 100.

As shown in FIG. 4, the ambient light source projects a light wave 406outward through the transparent diffuser element and the display screen(which may selectively attenuate light to display a transparency maskimage). Indeed, as shown in FIG. 4, the arrow representing light wave406 is shorter when exiting the display screen to represent theattenuation of the light that passes through the display screen.Accordingly, an observer may perceive the light wave 406 (together withother light waves) to see the interior of the display housing 101 inaddition to a transparency mask image, as illustrated above in FIG. 1A.

As mentioned above, the digital content overlay system synchronizes thecomponents of the display case and toggles the components between statesat Time 1 and Time 2. The digital content overlay system performs thetoggling function according to the display rate (as illustrated by thedisplay rate clock 402) described above. Thus, the digital contentoverlay system can present a digital overlay associated with the emittedlight image and an object view modulated by the transparency mask imageat Time 2 that appear together as a composite image to the human eye.

While FIG. 4 illustrates toggling between component states at an evenratio (e.g., equal amounts of time between an emissive state and anattenuating state) based on a display rate, in some embodiments thedigital content overlay system toggles between component states at adifferent ratio. Indeed, the ratio or fraction of time for which thedisplay screen (and other components) is in each respective statecontrols the overall brightness of each of the emitted light image andthe transparency mask image within the composite image.

For example, the digital content overlay system may change the ratiobetween the states at Time 1 and the states at Time 2 to something otherthan a one-to-one correspondence. In particular, Time 1 may represent anumber of consecutive frames (e.g., display rate cycles) that thedigital content overlay system maintains the state of each component atits respective state at Time 1. For instance, the digital contentoverlay system may maintain the Time 1 states for two, three, four, etc.consecutive display rate cycles without toggling to the Time 2 states.Likewise, Time 2 may represent a number of consecutive frames that thedigital content overlay system maintains the state of each component atits respective state at Time 2. For example, the digital content overlaysystem may maintain the Time 2 states for two, three, four, etc.,consecutive display rate cycles.

In this manner, the digital content overlay system can vary the ratio(e.g., duty cycle) between component states. To illustrate a 2:3 ratio,the digital content overlay system may maintain the Time 1 states fortwo consecutive frames based on the display rate, then the digitalcontent overlay system can toggle the components to the Time 2 statesand maintain the Time 2 states for three consecutive frames based on thedisplay rate. In addition to the 2:3 ratio in the foregoing example, thedigital content overlay system can utilize a 1:2 ratio, a 3:5 ratio, a4:5 ratio, or vice versa (e.g., 3:2, 2:1, 5:3, or 5:4).

As just mentioned, the digital content overlay system can repeatedlytoggle components between various states at various times. FIG. 5illustrates a timing diagram 500 for modifying states of variouscomponents in accordance with one or more embodiments. In particular,the timing diagram 500 includes a timing associated with the displayscreen, a timing associated with the diffuser element, a timingassociated with the diffuser direct light source, and a timingassociated with the ambient light source. Indeed, as illustrated in FIG.5, the digital content overlay system synchronizes each of thecomponents of the display case 100 based on a display rate that isindicated by the transitions occurring along the time axis t.

To illustrate the timing of alternating between states (e.g., theattenuating state and the emissive state), the time axis t can includediscrete times T0, T1, T2, and T3, distributed at even intervals alongthe time axis t. From T0 to T1, for example, the digital content overlaysystem sets the display screen to an attenuating state while setting thediffuser element to a transparent state, the diffuser direct lightsource to an off state, and the ambient light source to an on state.Conversely, from T1 to T2, the digital content overlay system sets thedisplay screen to an emissive state while setting the diffuser directlight source to an on state, the diffuser element to a scatter state,and the ambient light source to an off state.

For a display rate of 144 Hz, the time between T0 and T1 (which is thesame as the interval between T1 and T2 or between T2 and T3) is 6.94milliseconds (rounded to two significant figures). Similarly, for adisplay rate of 120 Hz (which, like 144 Hz, is the refresh rate of somecommercial monitors), the time interval between T0 and T1 is 8.33milliseconds. Accordingly, based on a display rate of 144 Hz, thedigital content overlay system toggles (e.g., switches the state of)each of the display screen, the diffuser element, the diffuser directlight source, and the ambient light source once every 6.94 milliseconds.Similarly, for 120 Hz, the digital content overlay system toggles thestates every 8.33 milliseconds.

While FIG. 5 illustrates only two states for each of the components ofthe digital content overlay system, in some embodiments additionalstates are possible (such as a third state and/or a fourth state). Forexample, in some embodiments the digital content overlay system utilizesa third state to control for translucency of a digital overlay. Toillustrate, in one or more embodiments, the diffuser element iscontrollable on a pixel level. Specifically, the diffuser element may belocally controllable on a pixel-by-pixel basis where individual pixels(or groups of pixels) can be in a scatter state while other pixels arein a transparent state (thus creating a translucency image).Accordingly, the digital content overlay system can toggle the diffuserelement using a third state in addition to the scatter state and thetransparent state—i.e., a localized translucency state. Thus, byutilizing the localized translucency state, the digital content overlaysystem can change a level of blur to provide a frosted glass-typeoverlay by adjusting an amount of scattering done by the diffuserelement on a pixel-by-pixel basis. In particular, the digital contentoverlay system can control transparency based on a transparency maskimage (in a first state), can control color based on an emitted lightimage (in a second state), and can control translucency based on atranslucency image (in a third state).

In other embodiments, the digital content overlay system may utilize auniform diffuser (i.e., a diffuser element not selectively controllableon a pixel level) with a third state. To illustrate, in theseembodiments the digital content overlay system alternates the displayscreen between an emissive state (e.g., with the diffuser element in thescattering state, the diffuser direct light source in the on state, andthe ambient light source in the off state), a translucent state (withthe diffuser element in the scattering state, the diffuser direct lightsource in the off state, and the ambient light source in the on state),and a transparent state (with the diffuser element in the transparentstate, the diffuser direct light source in the off state, and theambient light source in the on state). Utilizing these three states, thedigital content overlay system can utilize a uniform diffuser to createthe appearance of a locally controllable translucency overlay combinedwith an independently controlled emissive overlay. To preventperceptible flicker in such three-state embodiments, the digital contentoverlay system can utilize a display screen capable of a refresh rate ofat least 180 Hz, for an interleaved update rate of at least 60 Hz.

As described above, the digital content overlay system synchronizes thecomponents of a display case to present a view of a tangible objectwithin the display case together with a digital overlay. For example,FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate components of exemplary display cases inaccordance with one or more embodiments. Indeed, FIG. 6 illustrates adisplay case 600 including a display housing 602, a diffuser element604, a diffuser direct light source 606, a display screen 608, ambientlight sources 610 a-610 d (referred to herein collectively as “ambientlight sources 610”), and synchronizer 612. Likewise, FIG. 7 illustratesa display case 700 including a display housing 702, a diffuser directlight source 704, a diffuser element 706, a display screen 708, anambient light source 710, and a synchronizer 714.

Although not shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the display case 600 and/or 700 mayinclude communication devices such as USB, WI-FI, BLUETOOTH, radiofrequency identification (“RFID”), near field communication (“NFC”), orsome other radio frequency transceiver. In particular, the display casemay communicate with a user client device (e.g., a smartphone, tablet,computer, etc.) by way of such a communication device. For example, thedisplay case can receive digital content for a digital overlay by way ofthe communication device. The display case can further receiveinstructions to adjust the display rate, adjust opacity, change colorsof the ambient light source and/or the diffuser direct light source,change between a setting where the ambient light source toggles on andoff and a setting where the ambient light source stays on (or off),and/or adjust other settings.

While FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate an expanded view of the display cases 600and 700 (i.e., with the various components separated for purposes ofexplanation), the arrows of FIGS. 6 and 7 indicate that the componentsof the display cases 600 and 700 may fit together as a single body.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the display case 600 includes a displayhousing 602. The display housing 602 may be cubic in shape or else maybe a rectangular prism in shape. Additionally, the display housing 602may be composed of a number of (e.g., five) walls and an open face 614.The diffuser element 604 and the display screen 608 may cover the openface 614 of the display housing 602. In addition, the display housing602 may have an internal cavity surrounded by the display housing 602(e.g., the internal cavity enclosed by the walls that make up thedisplay housing 602). Accordingly, the display housing 602 may hold oneor more tangible objects within the internal cavity of the displayhousing 602. In addition, the diffuser element 604 and/or the displayscreen 608 may insert into the open face 614 and may be removable fromthe open face 614. In the same or other embodiments, the display housing602 may include one or more hinged walls that open for access to theinternal cavity within the display housing 602. Alternatively, thedisplay housing 602 may include one or more removable walls that removefor access to the internal cavity within the display housing 602.Moreover, the display housing 602 may include one or more openings inone or more walls to provide access to the internal cavity.

Within the display housing 602, the display case 600 further includesambient light sources 610. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the ambient lightsources 610 are located in each of the four corners that are most distalfrom the diffuser element 604. Indeed, the ambient lights 610 areaffixed to the inside of the walls of the display housing 602 oppositethe open face 614. Additionally, the walls of the display housing 602may be reflective or may be a particular color (e.g., white) to enhancevisibility inside the internal cavity of the display housing 602.

While FIG. 6 illustrates the ambient light sources 610 in particularlocations, the ambient light sources 610 may be located in alternativeor additional locations. For example, in some embodiments the ambientlight sources 610 are located in the four corners within the displayhousing 602 that are most proximal to the diffuser element 604. In stillother embodiments, there may be more or fewer ambient light sources 610.For instance, there may be a single ambient light source 610 locatedcentrally inside the top wall or else centrally inside the bottom wallof the display housing 602.

The diffuser element 604 of FIG. 6 is located over the open face 614 ofthe display housing 602. Alternatively, the diffuser element 604 can besecured within the display housing 602 between (and/or affixed to) thedisplay screen 608 and the internal cavity of the display housing 602.In particular, the diffuser element 604 is sized to match the displayhousing 602 such that the diffuser element 604 covers the open face 614of the display housing 602. Indeed, while FIG. 6 illustrates the openface 614 as rectangular, in some embodiments the open face 614 of thedisplay housing 602 is some other shape (e.g., circular, triangular,etc.). Additionally, in some embodiments the open face 614 may have anarea less than the area of a given side of the display housing 602. Inthese embodiments, the open face 614 may be an opening in a wall of thedisplay housing 602. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the diffuser element 604fits over the open face 614 to cover the open face 614 of the displayhousing 602.

The display housing 602 can include a diffuser direct light source 606located within the display housing 602. In particular, the diffuserdirect light source 606 can be located on the inside of an upper wall ofthe display housing 602 or in some other location to be unobstructed byany objects within the display housing 602. Further, the diffuser directlight source 606 may be an LED light source, a fluorescent light source,or some other type of light source that emits a white lightdirectionally toward the diffuser element 604. Accordingly, the diffuserdirect light source 606 is positioned to project light in a clear pathevenly onto the diffuser element 604. In some embodiments, the diffuserdirect light source 606 produces white light that includes all or mostof the wavelengths of the visible light spectrum. In other embodiments,the diffuser direct light source 606 produces light that includes only asubset of all of the wavelengths of visible light (e.g., light of aparticular color).

As further illustrated in FIG. 6, the display screen includes a displayscreen 608. As described above, the display screen 608 can be anyappropriate display panel capable of performing the functions describedherein. The display screen 608 and the diffuser element 604 are matchedin size so that the diffuser element 604 can scatter light before thelight passes through to the display screen 608. Furthermore, in someembodiments, the display screen 608 and the diffuser element 604 areaffixed together to form a display assembly.

As just mentioned, the display screen 608 and the diffuser element 604may be connected to form a display assembly. Within the displayassembly, the display screen 608 may form one face of the displayassembly, and the diffuser element 604 may form the opposite face of thedisplay assembly. While FIG. 6 illustrates a display assembly includingonly a display screen 608 and a diffuser element 604, in someembodiments (e.g., where the diffuser direct light source is atransparent OLED or grid of OLEDs) a display assembly can furtherinclude a diffuser direct light source located on the side of thediffuser element 604 opposite the display screen 608. Furthermore, whileFIG. 6 illustrates the display assembly located on a particular face ofthe display housing 101, in some embodiments the display assembly islocated on a different face. Similarly, although FIG. 6 illustrates asingle display assembly, in some embodiments the display case 100includes more than one display assembly (e.g., the display case 100 mayinclude a display assembly on two, three, four, or five faces of thedisplay housing 602).

As further illustrated in FIG. 6, the display case 600 includes aprocessor or some other computing device such as, but not necessarilylimited to, a synchronizer 612. In particular, the synchronizer 612synchronizes the various components of the display case 600 such as thediffuser element 604, the diffuser direct light source 606, the displayscreen 608, and the ambient light sources 610. To illustrate, thesynchronizer 612 may include an adjustable clock that can be set to adisplay rate, such as 144 Hz, or some other frequency. Based on thedisplay rate, the synchronizer 612 triggers state changes in one or moreof the components of the display case 600. For instance, thesynchronizer 612 triggers the diffuser element 604 to change from atransparent state to a scatter state while also triggering the displayscreen 608 to change from an attenuating state to an emissive state, thediffuser direct light source 606 to change from an off state to an onstate, and the ambient light sources 610 to change from an on state toan off state, as described above.

In some embodiments, the synchronizer 612 can include a graphicalprocessing unit (“GPU”) or some other processor to detect a refresh rateassociated with the display screen 608. Based on the refresh rate of thedisplay screen 608, the synchronizer 612 may adjust the display rate andmay time the triggering of state changes for each of the components ofthe display case 600 accordingly. For example, some commercial monitorshave a refresh rate of 144 Hz. In the cases where the display screen 608has a refresh rate of 144 Hz, the synchronizer sets the display rate(e.g., automatically without user input or in response to user input tomanually set the display rate) to and initiates the state changes of thediffuser element 604, the diffuser direct light source 606, and/or theambient light sources 610. Indeed, in some embodiments, the displayscreen 608 transitions between an emissive state and an attenuatingstate based on its refresh rate, and does so automatically withoutadditional user input. Likewise, the synchronizer 612 sets the displayrate for refresh rates of other frequencies as well, as described abovewith reference to the previous figures.

While FIG. 6 illustrates a particular example embodiment of the displaycase 600, additional or alternative embodiments are possible. Forexample, the display case 600 can include an additional processor orother computing device. The processor may be capable of rendering,rasterizing, or presenting digital content by way of a display screen,and the processor may be further capable of communicating with a userclient device by way of a WI-FI device or other communication device toreceive digital content and/or instructions to adjust the display rateor other settings. As another example, FIG. 7 illustrates an embodimentof the display case 700.

As shown in FIG. 7, the display case 700 includes a display housing 702that differs from the display housing 602 of FIG. 6. In particular, somethe walls of the display housing 702 have holes or openings 712 a-712 c(referred to herein collectively as “openings 712”) whereby the internalcavity within the display housing 702 is accessible. The display housing702 may also include an open face 716. While FIG. 7 illustrates aparticular number of openings 712 having a particular size and shape inthe display housing 702, in some embodiments the display housing 702 mayhave more or fewer openings 712, and the openings 712 may be a differentsize and shape (e.g., circular, ovular, triangular, or rectangular).

For example, in some embodiments the display housing 702 includes only asingle opening through the top wall of the display housing. In otherembodiments, the display housing 702 includes more than one opening on asingle face of the display housing 101. For example, the display housingcan include two circular holes on the top face in addition to, oralternatively to, a rectangular opening (e.g., with or without roundedcorners) on a different face of the display housing 101.

In addition, although FIG. 7 illustrates the display housing 702 havinga particular shape, in some embodiments the display housing 702 may be adifferent shape. For example, the display housing 702 may not be a boxshape with sharp corners, but may instead have rounded corners. Asanother example, the display housing may be spherical or curved in shape(e.g., an egg shape or a football shape). In such embodiments, thediffuser direct light source 704, the diffuser element 706, and thedisplay screen 708 may also be curved to fit the shape of the displayhousing 702. The display housing 702 may alternatively be a trapezoidalprism, a pyramid, or some other feasible shape.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the display housing 702 includes an ambientlight source 710. In particular, the ambient light source 710 iscomposed of a lighting strip (e.g., an LED strip) affixed along theseams of the walls inside the display housing 702. In some embodiments,the ambient light source 710 is located in additional or alternativelocations. For example, the ambient light source 710 may run along onlysome of the seams within the display housing 702 (e.g., only the seamsalong the open face 716 or seams along a wall opposite the open face716) and may consist of a higher or lesser density (e.g., three perinch, five per inch, one per inch) of LEDs (or other light). As shown inFIG. 7, the ambient light source 710 illuminates the internal cavity ofthe display housing 702 and projects light out through the open face 716(e.g., the open face over which the diffuser direct light source 704 islocated).

As described herein, the ambient light source 710 (or 610) and thediffuser direct light source 706 (or 606) may project similarly coloredlight. For example, the ambient light source 710 and the diffuser directlight source 704 may project light that shares the same wavelengths(e.g., the same or similar color of white). In other embodiments, theambient light source 710 and the diffuser direct light source 704project light of different colors (e.g., that have different wavelengthsof light).

Although not illustrated in FIG. 7, in some embodiments the display case700 may not include an ambient light source 710 and may instead rely onany natural lighting within the display housing 101 to illuminate anobject (e.g., object 104) contained therein (e.g., during those timeswhere the diffuser element 706 is in the transparent state, as describedabove). In other embodiments, the display case 100 may not toggle theambient light source 710 between states, and may instead maintain theambient light source in an on state irrespective of the states of thediffuser direct light source 704, the diffuser element 706, and/or thedisplay screen 708.

As just mentioned, the display case 700 of FIG. 7 further includes adiffuser element 706. In particular, the diffuser element 704 may beaffixed to (or be otherwise located in or on) an open face of thedisplay housing 702. The diffuser element 704 may also vary inthickness. For example, although FIG. 7 illustrates the diffuser directlight source 704, the diffuser element 706, and the display screen 708with similar thicknesses, the diffuser element may be thicker or thinnerthan the diffuser direct light source 704 and/or the display screen 708.Depending on the composition of the diffuser element 706, the diffuserelement 706 may be a fraction of the thickness of the display screen708. In other embodiments, however, the display case 700 can includemore than one diffuser element 706 stacked (e.g., layered) together toachieve a desired opacity.

Additionally, the diffuser element 706 may vary in its opacity. Toelaborate, the diffuser element 706 may be variable based on user inputto set an opacity of the diffuser element 706. Thus, in circumstanceswhere a user wants to achieve a particular visual effect by alternatingthe diffuser element 706 between a transparent state and a particularscatter state (e.g., a particular translucence), the diffuser element706 may be capable of such state changes.

As further illustrated in FIG. 7, the display case 700 also includes adiffuser direct light source 704. Differing from the diffuser directlight source 606 of FIG. 6, the diffuser direct light source 704 has apanel-shaped form. For instance, the diffuser direct light source 606may be transparent grid of OLEDs, as described above. In someembodiments, the diffuser direct light source 704 is a transparentmaterial that produces light and projects light toward the displayscreen 708 by fluorescing when externally illuminated by glowing whenedge-lit. Furthermore, the diffuser direct light source 704 may attach(e.g., be affixed) to the diffuser element 706 and/or the display screen708, as also described above.

FIG. 7 further illustrates the display case 700 including a displayscreen 708. The display screen 708 filters light that illuminates thediffuser element 706 from the diffuser direct light source 704. However,in some embodiments, the display screen 708 does not filter light fromthe diffuser direct light source 704 and instead only filters lightprovided by the ambient light source 710. Indeed, although FIG. 7illustrates the diffuser direct light source 704, in some embodimentsthe display case 700 does not include a diffuser direct light source704. Additionally, the display screen 708 may be a touchscreen and maytherefore be able to receive user input.

Alternatively, the diffuser direct light source 704 could be placedadjacent to the display screen 708. In these embodiments, the diffuserelement 706 would be used to blur the view of the background objects(e.g., tangible objects within the display case 700) seen when thedisplay screen 708 is in the emissive state. In other embodiments, thedisplay case 700 does not include a diffuser element 706. Thus, theemissive state of the display screen 708 may be driven by the diffuserdirect light source 704. In these embodiments, bright emissive regionsmay also display a partial view of the background objects. However, thedigital content overlay system can reduce the fraction of time in theemissive state to keep it relatively short, thereby minimizing thiseffect.

Furthermore, the display case 700 can include one or more additionaldisplay assemblies (e.g., assemblies including a display screen, adiffuser element, and optionally a diffuser direct light source) such asdisplay assembly 718. As shown in FIG. 7, the display assembly 718 maycover another open face of the display case 700. Indeed, the displaycase 700 can include a display assembly for every open face of thedisplay 700.

As mentioned above, the diffuser element 706 transitions between atransparent state and a scatter state—e.g., a state in which thediffuser element 706 passes light from the ambient light source 710 toilluminate the display screen 708. In particular, in a scatter state ofthe diffuser element 706, the ambient light source 710 may illuminatethe diffuser element 706 (e.g., to glow white), but the diffuser element706 may scatter light that passes through, blurring tangible objects orcolor images of the interior of the display case 100. Accordingly, theambient light source 710 may not alternate between off and on, butremain in an on state. While in an on state, the ambient light source710 can provide light which the display screen 708 filters to display adigital overlay (e.g., when the diffuser element 704 is in a scatterstate). Moreover, the ambient light source 710 can provide anilluminated view of the interior of the display case 100 by way of thedisplay screen 708 (e.g., when the diffuser element is in a transparentstate).

FIG. 7 also illustrates the display case 700 including the synchronizer714. In particular, the synchronizer 714 may function similarly to thesynchronizer 612 described above in relation to FIG. 6. Although notillustrated in FIG. 7, the display case 700 can include an alternativedisplay device to the display screen 708. For example, the display case700 can include a projector that presents the digital overlay. Indeed,the projector may alternate between an active state and an inactivestate as described above in relation to the display screen 102, 202,608, and 708. In addition, the projector may be located within thedisplay housing 702 at a location in one of the corners of the displayhousing 702. For instance, the projector may be affixed to the inside ofone or more walls of the display housing 702, in a location that enablesthe projector to project an image via the open face of the displayhousing 702 without being obstructed by any tangible object containedwithin the display housing 702.

Looking now to FIG. 8, additional detail will be provided regardingcomponents and capabilities of the digital content overlay system.Specifically, FIG. 8 illustrates an example schematic diagram of adigital content overlay system 802 on an example computing device 800(e.g., the display case 100, 600, and/or 700). As shown in FIG. 8, thedigital content overlay system 802 may include a digital overlay manager804, a display screen manager 806, a diffuser element manager 808, adiffuser direct light source manager 810, an ambient light sourcemanager 812, and a synchronizer 814. While FIG. 8 depicts a particularnumber of components, in some embodiments, the digital content overlaysystem 802 may include more or fewer components. In addition, thecomponents may perform additional or alternative tasks than thosedescribed hereafter.

As mentioned, the digital content overlay system 802 includes a digitaloverlay manager 804. In particular, the digital overlay manager 804manages, generates, animates, and/or creates digital content for displayby way of a display screen. For example, the digital overlay manager 804generates digital content (e.g., emitted light images and/ortransparency mask images) including text, images, icons, etc., inresponse to user input to design the digital content. The digitaloverlay manager 804 may further generate digital content that appears tointeract with a tangible real-world object that appears behind a displayscreen (e.g., within a display case). For instance, the digital overlaymanager 804 may generate a digital animation of digital content thatvirtually interacts with an object on display within the display case(e.g., emitted light images and/or transparency mask images that whencombined portray the digital overlay). As an example, the digitaloverlay manager 804 may animate a screw driving into a wall that appearsto be driven by a real-world screwdriver on display within the displaycase.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the digital content overlay system 802 alsoincludes a display screen manager 806. In particular, the display screenmanager 806 renders, rasterizes, presents, or otherwise displays digitalcontent by way of a display screen (e.g., display screen 102, 202, 608,or 708). The display screen manager 806 also toggles, switches,alternates, or transitions the display screen between an emissive stateand an attenuating state, as described above. In the emissive state, thedisplay screen manager 806 activates the display screen to filter lightto display digital content (e.g., an emitted light image). In theattenuating state, the display screen manager 806 changes the activeareas (e.g., pixels) on the display screen to passively allow some lightto travel through the display screen while selectively filtering otherlight to display a background view attenuated by a transparency maskimage.

FIG. 8 further illustrates the digital content overlay system 802including a diffuser element manager 808. In particular, the diffuserelement manager 808 manages or controls a diffuser element (e.g., thediffuser element 204, 604, or 704). For example, the diffuser elementmanager 808 toggles, switches, alternates, or transitions the diffuserelement from a scatter state to a transparent state and vice-versa. Forexample, the diffuser element manager 808 sends an electrical signal tostimulate molecules within the diffuser element to turn opaque or toturn transparent.

As further illustrated in FIG. 8, the digital content overlay system 802includes a diffuser direct light source manager 810. In particular, thediffuser direct light source manager 810 manages or controls a diffuserdirect light source (e.g., the diffuser direct light source 206, 606, or704). For example, the diffuser direct light source manager 810 toggles,switches, alternates, or transitions the diffuser direct light sourcefrom an on state to an off state and vice-versa, in accordance with thedisclosure herein.

FIG. 8 also illustrates the digital content overlay system 802 includingan ambient light source manager 812. In particular, the ambient lightsource manager 812 manages or controls an ambient light source (e.g.,the ambient light source 208, 610, or 710). For example, the ambientlight source manager 812 toggles, switches, alternates, or transitionsthe ambient light source from an on state to an off state andvice-versa, in accordance with the disclosure herein.

As further illustrated in FIG. 8, the digital content overlay system 802also includes a synchronizer 814. In particular, the synchronizer 814communicates with one or more of the display screen manager 806, thediffuser element manager 808, the diffuser direct light source manager810, and/or the ambient light source manager 812 to synchronize, time,trigger, align, or otherwise initiate the transitions of the displayscreen, the diffuser direct light source, the diffuser element, and/orthe ambient light source, in accordance with the disclosure herein.

FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic diagram of one embodiment of an exemplaryenvironment 900 in which the digital content overlay system 802operates. In one or more embodiments, the exemplary environment 900includes a network 902, server(s) 904, and a display case 906 includingthe digital content overlay system 802, a display screen 908, a diffuserelement 910, a diffuser direct light source 912, and an ambient lightsource 914. While FIG. 9 illustrates a particular arrangement of thecomponents of the environment 900, the environment 900 may haveadditional or alternative arrangements.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the environment 900 may include a network 902.In particular, the network 902 can interface the server(s) 904 and thedisplay case 906. Accordingly, the network 902 can facilitatecommunications between the server(s) 904 and the display case 906 viaappropriate network protocol. For example, the network 902 may refer toa local network (e.g., a local area network or “LAN”) or a wide areanetwork (“WAN”) or may refer to different communication protocol bywhich two computing devices can communicate.

As also illustrated in FIG. 9, the environment 900 may include server(s)904. The server(s) 904 may refer to one or more computing devices bywhich a user (e.g., an administrator) can create, arrange, and uploaddigital content for a digital overlay. In particular, the server(s) 904can communicate, via network 902, with the digital content overlaysystem 802 on (e.g., housed within) the display case 906. Accordingly,the server(s) 904 can communicate with the digital content overlaysystem 802 to provide, send, or otherwise transmit data, includingdigital content for a digital overlay, user settings for a display rate,brightness settings (e.g., for the diffuser direct light source 912and/or the ambient light source 914), etc.

In some embodiments, the environment 900 does not include the server(s)904. In these embodiments, the digital content overlay system 802 canreceive user input (e.g., via a user input device such as a keyboard,keypad, touchscreen, etc.) directly. Accordingly, the digital contentoverlay system 802 can transmit digital content for a digital overlay tothe display screen 908, and can further transmit display rate settings,opacity settings, brightness settings, etc., to the other components ofthe display case 906.

Although FIG. 9 illustrates a particular arrangement of the environment900 including the server(s) 904, the network 902, and the display case906, various additional or alternative arrangements are possible. Forexample, while FIG. 9 illustrates a single display case 906 incommunication with a network 902 and the server(s) 904, in one or moreembodiments multiple display cases may communicate directly with theserver(s) 904, bypassing network 902. In addition, the environment 900may include multiple display cases that each communicate with each otherto display digital content, different segments of a single presentation,or for other purposes.

FIGS. 1A-9, the corresponding text, and the examples provide a number ofdifferent systems and methods, non-transitory computer readable media,and devices that provide a digital overlay over a view of tangibleobjects within a display case. In addition to the foregoing, embodimentscan also be described in terms of flowcharts comprising acts foraccomplishing a particular result. For example, FIG. 10 illustrates aflowchart of an exemplary sequence of acts in accordance with one ormore embodiments.

While FIG. 10 illustrates acts according to one embodiment, alternativeembodiments may omit, add to, reorder, and/or modify any of the actsshown in FIG. 10. The acts of FIG. 10 can be performed as part of amethod. Alternatively, a non-transitory computer readable medium cancomprise instructions, that when executed by one or more processors,cause a computing device to perform the acts of FIG. 10. In stillfurther embodiments, a system can perform the acts of FIG. 10.Additionally, the steps/acts described herein may be repeated orperformed in parallel with one another or in parallel with differentinstances of the same or other similar steps/acts.

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary series of acts 1000 of providing adigital overlay by way of a display screen over a view of the interiorof a display case. In particular, the series of acts 1000 can include anact 1002 of providing an emitted light image. For example, the act 1002can involve providing an emitted light image for display by way of adisplay screen, wherein the display screen renders the emitted lightimage by filtering light that passes through the display screen emittedfrom a diffuser element scattering light provided by a diffuser directlight source while the display screen is in an emissive state.

The series of acts 1000 can further include an act 1004 of providing atransparency mask image. In particular, the act 1004 can involveproviding a transparency mask image for display by way of the displayscreen, wherein the display screen renders the transparency mask imageby filtering light that passes through the display screen from anambient light source while the display screen is in an attenuatingstate.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the series of acts 1000 can also include anact 1006 of toggling the display screen. In particular, the act 1006 caninclude toggling the display screen, at a display rate, between theemissive state and the attenuating state.

As further illustrated in FIG. 10, the series of acts 1000 can includean act 1008 of alternating a diffuser element. In particular, the act1008 can include alternating a diffuser element, based on the displayrate, between a transparent state and a scatter state such that at afirst point in time the diffuser element is in the transparent state andthe display screen is in the attenuating state and at a second point intime the diffuser element is in the scatter state and the display screenis in the emissive state. Alternating can include toggling, based on thedisplay rate, between utilizing the ambient light source to illuminatethe display screen at the first point in time and utilizing the diffuserdirect light source by way of the diffuser element to illuminate thedisplay screen at the second point in time. As described above, thediffuser element can be located behind the display screen—e.g., in adirection toward the interior of the display case. The display screencan filter light from the ambient light source at the first point intime to display the transparency mask image, can pass other light fromthe ambient light source to reveal a view behind the display screen, andthe display screen can filter light from the diffuser direct lightsource at the second point in time to display the emitted light image.

Although not illustrated in FIG. 10, the series of acts 1000 can furtherinclude an act of illuminating the display screen by way of an ambientlight source that is located behind the diffuser element and thatgenerates the ambient light waves. The series of acts 1000 can stillfurther include an act of illuminating the display screen by way of thediffuser element that scatters light to emit an even glow, wherein thelight is provided by a diffuser direct light source located behind thediffuser element.

The series of acts 1000 may still further include an act ofsynchronizing the display screen, the diffuser element, the diffuserdirect light source, and the ambient light source based on the displayrate. Synchronizing the display rate may occur such that: at the firstpoint in time the display screen is in the attenuating state, thediffuser element is in the transparent state, the diffuser direct lightsource is off, and the ambient light source is on, and at the secondpoint in time the display screen is in the emissive state, the diffuserelement is in the scatter state, the diffuser direct light source is on,and the ambient light source is off.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may comprise or utilize a specialpurpose or general-purpose computer including computer hardware, suchas, for example, one or more processors and system memory, as discussedin greater detail below. Embodiments within the scope of the presentdisclosure also include physical and other computer-readable media forcarrying or storing computer-executable instructions and/or datastructures. In particular, one or more of the processes described hereinmay be implemented at least in part as instructions embodied in anon-transitory computer-readable medium and executable by one or morecomputing devices (e.g., any of the media content access devicesdescribed herein). In general, a processor (e.g., a microprocessor)receives instructions, from a non-transitory computer-readable medium,(e.g., a memory, etc.), and executes those instructions, therebyperforming one or more processes, including one or more of the processesdescribed herein.

Computer-readable media can be any available media that can be accessedby a general purpose or special purpose computer system.Computer-readable media that store computer-executable instructions arenon-transitory computer-readable storage media (devices).Computer-readable media that carry computer-executable instructions aretransmission media. Thus, by way of example, and not limitation,embodiments of the disclosure can comprise at least two distinctlydifferent kinds of computer-readable media: non-transitorycomputer-readable storage media (devices) and transmission media.

Non-transitory computer-readable storage media (devices) includes RAM,ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM, solid state drives (“SSDs”) (e.g., based on RAM),Flash memory, phase-change memory (“PCM”), other types of memory, otheroptical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storagedevices, or any other medium which can be used to store desired programcode means in the form of computer-executable instructions or datastructures and which can be accessed by a general purpose or specialpurpose computer.

A “network” is defined as one or more data links that enable thetransport of electronic data between computer systems and/or modulesand/or other electronic devices. When information is transferred orprovided over a network or another communications connection (eitherhardwired, wireless, or a combination of hardwired or wireless) to acomputer, the computer properly views the connection as a transmissionmedium. Transmissions media can include a network and/or data linkswhich can be used to carry desired program code means in the form ofcomputer-executable instructions or data structures and which can beaccessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. Combinationsof the above should also be included within the scope ofcomputer-readable media.

Further, upon reaching various computer system components, program codemeans in the form of computer-executable instructions or data structurescan be transferred automatically from transmission media tonon-transitory computer-readable storage media (devices) (or viceversa). For example, computer-executable instructions or data structuresreceived over a network or data link can be buffered in RAM within anetwork interface module (e.g., a “NIC”), and then eventuallytransferred to computer system RAM and/or to less volatile computerstorage media (devices) at a computer system. Thus, it should beunderstood that non-transitory computer-readable storage media (devices)can be included in computer system components that also (or evenprimarily) utilize transmission media.

Computer-executable instructions comprise, for example, instructions anddata which, when executed at a processor, cause a general purposecomputer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing deviceto perform a certain function or group of functions. In someembodiments, computer-executable instructions are executed on ageneral-purpose computer to turn the general-purpose computer into aspecial purpose computer implementing elements of the disclosure. Thecomputer executable instructions may be, for example, binaries,intermediate format instructions such as assembly language, or evensource code. Although the subject matter has been described in languagespecific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to beunderstood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is notnecessarily limited to the described features or acts described above.Rather, the described features and acts are disclosed as example formsof implementing the claims.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the disclosure may bepracticed in network computing environments with many types of computersystem configurations, including, personal computers, desktop computers,laptop computers, message processors, hand-held devices, multi-processorsystems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics,network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, mobile telephones,PDAs, tablets, pagers, routers, switches, and the like. The disclosuremay also be practiced in distributed system environments where local andremote computer systems, which are linked (either by hardwired datalinks, wireless data links, or by a combination of hardwired andwireless data links) through a network, both perform tasks. In adistributed system environment, program modules may be located in bothlocal and remote memory storage devices.

Embodiments of the present disclosure can also be implemented in cloudcomputing environments. In this description, “cloud computing” isdefined as a model for enabling on-demand network access to a sharedpool of configurable computing resources. For example, cloud computingcan be employed in the marketplace to offer ubiquitous and convenienton-demand access to the shared pool of configurable computing resources.The shared pool of configurable computing resources can be rapidlyprovisioned via virtualization and released with low management effortor service provider interaction, and then scaled accordingly.

A cloud-computing model can be composed of various characteristics suchas, for example, on-demand self-service, broad network access, resourcepooling, rapid elasticity, measured service, and so forth. Acloud-computing model can also expose various service models, such as,for example, Software as a Service (“SaaS”), Platform as a Service(“PaaS”), and Infrastructure as a Service (“IaaS”). A cloud-computingmodel can also be deployed using different deployment models such asprivate cloud, community cloud, public cloud, hybrid cloud, and soforth. In this description and in the claims, a “cloud-computingenvironment” is an environment in which cloud computing is employed.

FIG. 11 illustrates, in block diagram form, an exemplary computingdevice 1100 (e.g., the computing device 800 described above) that may beconfigured to perform one or more of the processes described above. Onewill appreciate that the digital content overlay system 802 can compriseimplementations of the computing device 1100. As shown by FIG. 11, thecomputing device can comprise a processor 1102, memory 1104, a storagedevice 1106, an I/O interface 1108, and a communication interface 1110.In certain embodiments, the computing device 1100 can include fewer ormore components than those shown in FIG. 11. Components of computingdevice 1100 shown in FIG. 11 will now be described in additional detail.

In particular embodiments, processor(s) 1102 includes hardware forexecuting instructions, such as those making up a computer program. Asan example, and not by way of limitation, to execute instructions,processor(s) 1102 may retrieve (or fetch) the instructions from aninternal register, an internal cache, memory 1104, or a storage device1106 and decode and execute them.

The computing device 1100 includes memory 1104, which is coupled to theprocessor(s) 1102. The memory 1104 may be used for storing data,metadata, and programs for execution by the processor(s). The memory1104 may include one or more of volatile and non-volatile memories, suchas Random Access Memory (“RAM”), Read Only Memory (“ROM”), a solid statedisk (“SSD”), Flash, Phase Change Memory (“PCM”), or other types of datastorage. The memory 1104 may be internal or distributed memory.

The computing device 1100 includes a storage device 1106 includesstorage for storing data or instructions. As an example, and not by wayof limitation, storage device 1106 can comprise a non-transitory storagemedium described above. The storage device 1106 may include a hard diskdrive (HDD), flash memory, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) drive or acombination of these or other storage devices.

The computing device 1100 also includes one or more input or output(“I/O”) devices/interfaces 1108, which are provided to allow a user toprovide input to (such as user strokes), receive output from, andotherwise transfer data to and from the computing device 1100. These I/Odevices/interfaces 1108 may include a mouse, keypad or a keyboard, atouch screen, camera, optical scanner, network interface, modem, otherknown I/O devices or a combination of such I/O devices/interfaces 1108.The touch screen may be activated with a writing device or a finger.

The I/O devices/interfaces 1108 may include one or more devices forpresenting output to a user, including, but not limited to, a graphicsengine, a display (e.g., a display screen), one or more output drivers(e.g., display drivers), one or more audio speakers, and one or moreaudio drivers. In certain embodiments, devices/interfaces 1108 isconfigured to provide graphical data to a display for presentation to auser. The graphical data may be representative of one or more graphicaluser interfaces and/or any other graphical content as may serve aparticular implementation.

The computing device 1100 can further include a communication interface1110. The communication interface 1110 can include hardware, software,or both. The communication interface 1110 can provide one or moreinterfaces for communication (such as, for example, packet-basedcommunication) between the computing device and one or more othercomputing devices 1100 or one or more networks. As an example, and notby way of limitation, communication interface 1110 may include a networkinterface controller (NIC) or network adapter for communicating with anEthernet or other wire-based network or a wireless NIC (WNIC) orwireless adapter for communicating with a wireless network, such as aWI-FI. The computing device 1100 can further include a bus 1111. The bus1111 can comprise hardware, software, or both that couples components ofcomputing device 1100 to each other.

In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described withreference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. Various embodimentsand aspects of the invention(s) are described with reference to detailsdiscussed herein, and the accompanying drawings illustrate the variousembodiments. The description above and drawings are illustrative of theinvention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention.Numerous specific details are described to provide a thoroughunderstanding of various embodiments of the present invention.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrativeand not restrictive. For example, the methods described herein may beperformed with less or more steps/acts or the steps/acts may beperformed in differing orders. Additionally, the steps/acts describedherein may be repeated or performed in parallel with one another or inparallel with different instances of the same or similar steps/acts. Thescope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claimsrather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come withinthe meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embracedwithin their scope.

1. A display case for presenting computer-generated digital contentoverlaid on a view of tangible objects within the display case by way ofa multi-layered transmissive display, the display case comprising: adisplay screen covering an open face of a display housing, wherein thedisplay screen alternates between an emissive state where the displayscreen filters light waves to display an emitted light image and anattenuating state where the display screen filters light waves from aninternal cavity of the display housing to display a transparency maskimage; a diffuser element between the display screen and the internalcavity, wherein the diffuser element alternates between a transparentstate and a scatter state to generate a digital overlay superimposed ona view of the internal cavity; a diffuser direct light source locatedwithin the internal cavity of the display housing behind the diffuserelement opposite the display screen and aligned to project light in adirection from inside the display case toward the diffuser element andthat alternates between an on state where the diffuser direct lightsource illuminates the diffuser element and an off state where thediffuser direct light source is inactive; and a synchronizer that sets adisplay rate to trigger alternating the display screen, the diffuserelement, and the diffuser direct light source, between states at a firstpoint in time and a second point in time by: setting, at the first pointin time, the display screen to the emissive state, the diffuser elementto the scatter state, and the diffuser direct light source to the onstate; and setting, at the second point in time, the display screen tothe attenuating state, the diffuser element to the transparent state,and the diffuser direct light source to the off state.
 2. The displaycase of claim 1, wherein the display screen is an LCD screen configuredto redraw every pixel on the display screen at each refresh of a refreshrate.
 3. The display case of claim 1, wherein the emitted light imageand the transparency mask image are controllable for different colorbands independently of each other.
 4. The display case of claim 1,wherein the synchronizer comprises a graphical processing unitconfigured to: detect a refresh rate associated with the display screen;and set the display rate based on the detected refresh rate.
 5. Thedisplay case of claim 1, wherein the diffuser element is affixed behindthe display screen in a direction toward the internal cavity within thedisplay housing and is adjacent to the internal cavity.
 6. The displaycase of claim 1, wherein in the scatter state, the diffuser elementscatters light provided by the diffuser direct light source toilluminate the display screen.
 7. The display case of claim 1, furthercomprising an ambient light source aligned to project light within theinternal cavity and that alternates between a second on state whereinthe ambient light source illuminates the display screen and a second offstate wherein the ambient light source is inactive, wherein thesynchronizer sets the display rate to further trigger alternating theambient light source between states at the first point in time and thesecond point in time by: setting, at the first point in time, theambient light source to the second off state; and setting, at the secondpoint in time, the ambient light source to the second on state.
 8. Thedisplay case of claim 1, wherein the diffuser element comprises amaterial that, in response to electrical stimulation, transitions fromthe transparent state to the scatter state at a rate of at least 60 Hz.9. A display case for presenting computer-generated digital contentoverlaid on a view of tangible objects within the display case by way ofa multi-layered transmissive display, the display case comprising: adisplay housing comprising an open face and an internal cavity withinthe display housing; a display screen fixably attached to the displayhousing to cover the open face, wherein the display screen alternatesbetween an emissive state where the display screen filters light wavesfrom a diffuser direct light source to display an emitted light imageand an attenuating state where the display screen filters light wavesfrom the internal cavity to display a transparency mask image, whereinthe emitted light image and the transparency mask image are controllablefor a red color band of the display screen, a green color band of thedisplay screen, and a blue color band of the display screenindependently of each other; a diffuser element affixed to the displayscreen and adjacent to the internal cavity and that diffuses light andalternates between a transparent state and a scatter state such that adigital overlay is superimposed on a view of the internal cavity; and asynchronizer that sets a display rate to trigger alternating the displayscreen and the diffuser element between states at a first point in timeand a second point in time by: setting, at the first point in time, thedisplay screen to the emissive state and the diffuser element to thescatter state; and setting, at the second point in time, the displayscreen to the attenuating state and the diffuser element to thetransparent state.
 10. The display case of claim 9, wherein the diffuserdirect light source is aligned to project light in a direction frominside the display case toward the diffuser element and alternatesbetween an on state wherein the diffuser direct light source illuminatesthe diffuser element and an off state wherein the diffuser direct lightsource is inactive.
 11. The display case of claim 10, further comprisingan ambient light source aligned to project light within the internalcavity and that alternates between a second on state wherein the ambientlight source illuminates the display screen and a second off statewherein the ambient light source is inactive.
 12. The display case ofclaim 11, wherein the synchronizer further triggers alternating thediffuser direct light source and the ambient light source between statesat the first point in time and the second point in time by: setting, atthe first point in time, the diffuser direct light source to the onstate, and the ambient light source to the second off state; andsetting, at the second point in time, the diffuser direct light sourceto the off state, and the ambient light source to the second on state.13. The display case of claim 12, wherein the diffuser direct lightsource is located within the internal cavity of the display housingbehind the diffuser element opposite the display screen.
 14. The displaycase of claim 9, wherein the synchronizer comprises a graphicalprocessing unit configured to: detect a refresh rate associated with thedisplay screen; and set the display rate based on the detected refreshrate.
 15. The display case of claim 9, wherein the display screen is anLCD screen configured to redraw every pixel on the display screen ateach refresh of a refresh rate.
 16. A method for displaying a digitalcontent overlay for a tangible object displayed within a display case,the method comprising: providing, at a first point in time, an emittedlight image for display by way of a display screen, wherein the displayscreen renders the emitted light image by filtering light emitted from adiffuser element scattering light provided by a diffuser direct lightsource while the display screen is in an emissive state, wherein thediffuser element is affixed to the display screen and is adjacent to aninternal cavity; providing, at a second point in time, a transparencymask image for display by way of the display screen, wherein the displayscreen renders the transparency mask image by filtering light from anambient light source while the display screen is in an attenuatingstate; and utilizing a synchronizer to: toggle, based on a display rate,the display screen between the emissive state at the first point in timeand the attenuating state at the second point in time; toggle, based onthe display rate, the diffuser element between a scatter state at thefirst point in time and a transparent state at the second point in time;alternate, based on the display rate, the diffuser direct light sourcebetween an on state at the first point in time and an off state at thesecond point in time; and alternate, based on the display rate, theambient light source between a second off state at the first point intime and a second on state at the second point in time.
 17. The methodof claim 16, wherein: the diffuser element is located between thedisplay screen and the internal cavity; and further comprisingilluminating the display screen by way of the ambient light source,wherein the ambient light source is located behind the diffuser elementin a direction toward the internal cavity.
 18. The method of claim 16,further comprising redrawing every pixel on the display screen for theemitted light image at the first point in time and transparency maskimage at the second point in time.
 19. The method of claim 16, whereinthe emitted light image and the transparency mask image are controllablefor a red color band of the display screen, a green color band of thedisplay screen, and a blue color band of the display screenindependently of each other.
 20. The method of claim 16, furthercomprising: detecting, utilizing the synchronizer, a refresh rateassociated with the display screen; and setting, utilizing thesynchronizer, the display rate based on the detected refresh rate.